About this time last year, steps were being carried out towards the task of hiring a new superintendent for the Sioux City School District. Rod Earleywine was going to retire in June 2025, after three years in that post.
An executive search firm was used to pinpoint top candidates for the fifth largest school district in Iowa. More than 20 people applied for the post, then seven people were interviewed in closed session.
Sioux City School Board pinpointed two final candidates for the superintendent position. Those two were Juan Cordova, who was the assistant superintendent of instruction for Hazelwood School District in Missouri, plus Corey Seymour, superintendent of schools for Clear Creek Amana Community School District in Oxford, Iowa.
Right after that, Cordova was picked for the post, with his work for the Sioux City School District set to begin on July 1.
In making that announcement, Sioux City school board president Jan George said Cordova had proven he will work collaboratively to improve the delivery of instruction to the 14,500 students in the Sioux City School District.
However, Cordova’s time as superintendent was short and controversial. He was placed on a leave of absence in August, then again in November.
In a school board meeting in the first week of January, the board members unanimously accepted Cordova’s resignation, which is effective in late March.
Many people in the community have been seeking clarity on how Cordova had performed over his half year, and why the administrative leaves took place.
So this What’s the Frequency show focuses on Cordova’s tenure. You will hear from numerous school officials, plus Cordova, from a June interview with him about the approaching start of his Sioux City Schools superintendent job, for a prior Frequency show.
On this What’s The Frequency show, you will hear from Sioux City School District Acting Superintendent Angela Bemus, plus Sioux City School Board current and former members Lance Ehmcke, Cyndi Hanson and Dan Greenwell.
Cordova worked roughly 50 days for the Sioux City District, and some of the secrecy surrounding his leave ended with a statement by school board president Jan George:
"This mutual decision follows Dr. Cordova’s licensing issues and professional differences between Dr. Cordova and the Board with regard to standards for its Superintendent.
*Click on the audio link above to hear the entire show.
What's The Frequency, Episode 91.
